Hinkler veterans and war widows will undertake a series of bus trips, aimed at reducing social isolation, with Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt today announcing funding for two local organisations.

Mr Pitt said the Extremely Disabled War Veterans of Australia, Central and North Queensland Association would receive $6,600 through the Veteran and Community Grants Program to run bus trips across the region.

The National Servicemens Association of Australia (Qld) Incorporated Bundaberg will receive $1,371 to purchase computer equipment and software for the production of a newsletter.

They will receive a further $4,155 to operate a series of bus trips for local veterans and widows.

Mr Pitt greeted (National Servicemens Association) participants as they boarded the bus in Bundaberg this morning, to wish them a safe and enjoyable journey.

“Today’s tour will take passengers to Biggenden, Goomeri and Bjelke-Petersen Dam,” he said.

“The dedication and hard work of organisations like these ensure veterans and their families are provided with community care, access to resources and social interactions like these bus tours.

“I congratulate both organisations on their successful applications. The grants made to these and other organisations around the country recognise the Australian community’s appreciation of those who served.”

A Veterans’ Affairs Officer from the Sunshine Coast Veterans’ Access Network will be available to answer questions about the complete range of benefits and services at Bundaberg RSL on Thursday March 20, between 10am and 3pm. To request an appointment telephone 1800 555 254.

Media contact: Larine Statham 0427 653 814        

Statement from Keith Pitt in response to the media release issued by Bundaberg Regional Council on 11 March and published in the NewsMail on 12 March, 2014. 

“Applications for the Hinkler electorate only closed on January 31.

“They were assessed for eligibility by an independent local ANZAC grants committee and sent to the Minister for approval, prior to the May 30 deadline.

“The Hinkler committee alone received many, many local applications for funding.

“The guidelines clearly advise that due to the high number of applications nationally, the outcome of the applications will not be known for several months:

• Due to the expected volume of applications that will be lodged, the time required to assess each application and provide recommendations to the Minister for decisions to be made will be lengthy and therefore the outcome of applications may not be known for several months after they have been lodged.

“This grant is to celebrate the Centenary of ANZAC in 2015. 

“It seems Councillor Barnes did not read the guidelines before submitting Council’s application.

“The initial application was submitted before applications closed, but was deferred by the independent committee because information was missing.   

“The process was explained to Councillor Barnes at length in person.

“Completing the Bargara Memorial in 2014, would result in the proposal failing to meet some of the major assessment criteria, including:

• The ability of the proposal to enable the local community to commemorate the Centenary of the First World War.

“Any reasonable person would understand that the application process and construction of the memorial cannot be completed in less than three months, in time for Anzac Day 2014.

“If Council has decided to defer the project, that is a matter for them. These grants are for the 2015 Centenary, not 2014.

“If Council is desperate to build a new memorial for Bargara this year, they are welcome to do it with Council funding.

“It is deeply disappointing that Councillor Barnes has got this so wrong, and has chosen to politicise this very important commemorative event.

“The Centenary of Anzac Local Grants Program is a very worthwhile project and I look forward to announcing the successful applications later this year.” 

Hinkler residents will have greater access to their Federal Member, with Keith Pitt scheduling regular visits to the electorate’s many communities.     

The Hinkler Electorate Office will hit the road between Parliamentary sitting weeks to meet residents who, for various reasons, find it difficult to travel to Bundaberg.

Mr Pitt will visit Hervey Bay and Childers later this week (March 14). He will visit Howard and Woodgate on Tuesday April 1, Hervey Bay on Monday April 7 and Burrum Heads in May.  Residents can request an appointment with Mr Pitt by telephoning 07 4152 0744 or emailing keith.pitt.mp@aph.gov.au.

Mr Pitt said he was delivering on his promise to represent all Hinkler residents.

“My door is always open, but I want to ensure people in Hervey Bay and Hinkler’s many smaller communities also feel their concerns are being heard,” he said.

“No matter where a person lives, they should have access to the person they elected to be their local voice in Canberra.

“The Coalition is delivering on its promise to be a consultative Government.”

Mr Pitt invited constituents to interact with him on Facebook and YouTube. Residents will also receive the first edition of Mr Pitt’s newsletter, Hinkler Headlines, in coming weeks.

“They can monitor my progress at www.keithpitt.com.au,” he said.

Matters on which the Hinkler electorate office may be able to assist Hinkler constituents include pensions and family payments, veterans’ affairs, citizenship, passports, Medicare, immigration and taxation.

NOTE: Further visits will be announced as they are scheduled. Residents can express their interest by emailing keith.pitt.mp@aph.gov.au

Residents and visitors to the region can now listen to stories about Bundaberg’s fascinating history following the installation of new interactive audio signs.

Under projects funded by the Australian Government’s ‘Your Community Heritage’ program, audio signs are being placed at six local historical sites including Mon Repos, the Barolin Nature Reserve, Barolin Homestead and Boolboonda Tunnel.

Environment and Natural Resources portfolio spokesperson Cr Danny Rowleson said the weatherproof signs helped to promote the importance of understanding and appreciating history.

“By pressing buttons on the signs, visitors can listen to short factual stories and get a better understanding of what life was like in the early days of settlement.”

“This is the first time that detailed historical information has been available at each site.” 

“Using a combination of old photos, memoirs, extracts from early newspapers and interviews, the audio signs recreate the sounds and voices of those times.”

The stories are also available on Council’s website for people who are unable to visit the sites.

Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt said he was delighted the Australian Government was able to support such an important community heritage project, contributing $285,000.   

“The completion of this project ensures the preservation of this interesting part of Bundaberg’s heritage for future generations and visitors to the region,” Mr Pitt said.

“We’re glad we could work with Bundaberg Regional Council on such an innovative and interactive approach to the preservation of our important local heritage.”

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service Area manager Peter Wright said that two of the signs are being installed at the Mon Repos Conservation Park.

“Mon Repos has major heritage significance as a place where Bert Hinkler conducted early forays into flight, the site of the heritage listed South Sea Islander Wall and the site of a telegraph station connecting Australia to the rest of the world by cable to New Caledonia.”

“The signs will enhance the experience of visitors to Mon Repos and help educate the public about the importance of maintaining our links to the past”.

Two of the six signs have already been installed, with the other 4 to be installed in the coming weeks.  The exact locations are:

• Mon Repos Conservation Park, Mon Repos (South Sea Islander Wall and Bert Hinkler)
• Turtle trail, Barolin Nature Reserve, Bargara (Woongarra Tramway and Cable Station) – already installed
• Barolin Esplanade, Innes Park (Barolin Homestead)
• Tunnel Road, off Gin Gin – Mt Perry Road (Boolboonda Tunnel

The audio stories can be heard on the internet under the “Bundaberg Stories” section of the Bundaberg library webpage. 

Mr PITT (Hinkler) (19:58): It is with great pleasure that I rise to report on the activities of surf-lifesaving in the electorate of Hinkler, and in particular the actions of the chief instructor of the Bundaberg club, Martin Cole, during the 2013 natural disasters. In quite incredible circumstances, Mr Cole and two Queensland Fire and Rescue Service volunteers pulled off a dramatic rescue at night in the raging torrent of the Kolan River.

It is very important that I note how difficult these circumstances were. The rescue was conducted in the dark in an inshore rescue boat, which is designed for use in the surf. It contained the driver and the two QFRS operators. At the time they spent at least an hour searching for a family who were reported to be stranded on the roof of their home. This used to be on the banks of the Kolan River; however, at the time that they were discovered the water was lapping at the gutters and rising rapidly. Given that it was a night-time rescue, they had no support. They were on the northern side of the Bundaberg city, which was completely cut off. They had no support from mobile phone networks and all of the batteries had drained in the devices that they did have.

Once they loaded up the inshore rescue boat, which was low on fuel, they discovered that the additional load against the raging torrent of the Kolan River would not allow them to return to the area that they launched the vessel from. Consequently, they had to turn with the flow of the river—in the dark, with no moon, surrounded by floating containers, cows and lots of other debris—and head out to sea. Unfortunately, they found the Kolan River had broken its banks in two places to create three additional river mouths. This then allowed them to move into the surf and take the patients—one of whom was injured quite severely—onto the beach.

The SPEAKER: It being eight o’clock, the debate is interrupted. No doubt, you will have another opportunity to finish that very moving story.

House adjourned at 20:00

**check against delivery** E&OE

It’s great to be here to speak to you all today; some of you for the first time since I was elected to the seat of Hinkler.

It’s been a very productive few months. 

We’ve wasted no time getting on with the job we were elected to do.

I’ve already delivered on nearly all of the election commitments I made to the people of Hinkler.

To name just a few, I secured a total of $850,000 for the Hervey Bay Hockey Club, the Hervey Bay Surf Life Saving Club and the Bundaberg Surf Life Saving Club.

As promised, we’ve suspended Labor’s flawed marine management plans. We will create a new plan in consultation with stakeholders: one that is based on science.

We’re providing $6.5 million for 25 research projects to ensure the continued sustainability of Australian fisheries, including expanding the Status of Australian Fish Stocks Report to include more species.

Last month, we announced $4.75 million for Hervey Bay Roads. We’ve also announced funding to finish flood repairs at the Port of Bundaberg.  

The Coalition understands that well-planned infrastructure, delivered in a timely manner, is vital to helping all of you get your products to market. It also facilitates service delivery to regional Australia and provides long-term employment, and opportunities for training and development. 

And so, together, over the next ten years, the Abbott and Newman Governments will spend $8.5 Billion upgrading the ailing Bruce Highway.

I also look forward to delivering on our commitment to establish a National Stronger Regions Fund. Councils and community groups will be able to apply for grants for capital works projects that will regenerate the community.

As a former business owner, I understand that infrastructure is not the only hurdle regional businesses have to overcome. Here in Australia, regulation is high, input costs are high, labour costs are high, the Australian dollar is high and profits are low. We’re working to change that.

Repealing the Carbon Tax will be a great first step in helping business flourish. Electricity costs incurred through irrigation and refrigerant gases, for example, skyrocketed with the introduction of the tax.

We’re also cutting red and green tape to save businesses time and money. Next month, the Coalition will dedicate a day in Parliament to slashing unnecessary red and green tape, to lift productivity and boost economic growth. If there is a piece of Federal legislation you think needs to be reviewed, please email your suggestions to my office.

A root and branch review of Competition Laws will ensure large and small businesses have an even playing field. We need a supermarket code of conduct with teeth, to ensure small to medium sized suppliers are getting a fair go.

Earlier this week, full details of the Free Trade Agreement we negotiated with South Korea were released. The removal of tariffs will benefit a range of Hinkler exporters, including those in the sugar, horticulture and seafood industries. We are working to conclude agreements with other trading partners, to boost Australia’s competitiveness in the global economy.

In addition to these and other measures, the Coalition will reduce the company tax rate by 1.5 per cent from 1 July next year.

Let me tell you why we are trying to make it easier, not harder, for you to do business in Australia. It is business that grows our economy. It is business that creates jobs.

Small business is the backbone of regional Australia. They employ 50 per cent of all Australians working in the private sector.

And I don’t need to tell you that jobs are sorely needed in Hinkler. Unemployment is our single biggest issue.  Unemployment and financial hardship are often contributing factors in cases of marital break down, domestic violence, criminal activity, poor nutrition, health problems, and declining school attendance.

The greatest thing we can do to help communities like Hinkler prosper is provide Australians with opportunity. Opportunity for education. Opportunity for training. Opportunity for employment.

Employment gives people the ability to pay their own way and provide for their families. The people of this great nation should be able to depend on their elected representatives, but that does not mean we should be building a nation of dependence.

Under the Rudd and Gillard Governments, unemployment in the Hinkler electorate increased from 6 per cent in the September 2007 quarter to 9.3 per cent in the June 2013 quarter. That’s compared to an unemployment rate of 5.4 per cent for the nation or 6 per cent in Queensland.  

As promised, we’re revitalising the Work for the Dole program to give people routine, structure, presentation skills and access to potential employers.

We are fortunate to live in a country where the Government provides a safety net to those who find themselves without employment. Requiring Australians to work for the dole ensures that the obligation is mutual.

Financial incentives will also be provided to employers and employees to get young people and seniors into the workforce.

Hinkler residents aged between 18 to 30 will receive $2500 if they hold a job for a continuous period of 12 months, and a further bonus of $4000 when they attain 24 months of service.

Hinkler employers will receive up to $3250 when they hire a job seeker over the age of 50. That payment is particularly important in an aging electorate like Hinkler.

The median age in Hinkler is 44, compared to 37 for Queensland. Almost 3000 residents are over the age of 85, making it the largest single age group in the electorate.

For all the entrepreneurs in the audience, aged care is a sector that presents enormous opportunity. As the local population ages and more retirees move to Hervey Bay to enjoy the lifestyle, the demand for in-the-home care, retirement villages and nursing homes is going to increase.

Australians who have already paid their dues, and their taxes, deserve to live out their remaining days with dignity. There is no doubt that this will come at significant cost to Australian taxpayers, but it is worth remembering that in constructing these facilities and developing new innovative models for service delivery, we will be creating jobs for future generations. The business opportunities and economic benefits, both direct and indirect, should not be underestimated.  

One of the negative aspects of having an aging population is that our workforce is losing critical skills. Sadly, one of Hinkler’s great exports is its young talent.

If we are to hold on to our young people, we need to provide new opportunities: real jobs with real outcomes. We need to give our young people the incentive to undertake a trade. We need to give them a reason to return once they have finished their university studies in the big smoke. 

That’s where you come in. My challenge to you is to create that opportunity. We will do everything we can to get out of your way, to let you get on with doing what you do best, and that is running your business. We will work with our State and Local colleagues to create a business environment that gives you the confidence to expand. We just need you to create opportunities.

With that in mind, I welcome your views about a number of proposals that have come across my desk in recent months.

There are calls for a bridge over the Burrum River to link the Hinkler electorate’s tourism centres and provide an alternate route for critical transport, to take pressure off the Bruce Highway.

There have been suggestions that sinking a wreck in Hervey Bay would attract divers from around the world, and give our local tourism operators a much needed boost.

Some argue the Hinkler electorate is ideally situated for a container port to service Central and South East Queensland. The port could be constructed for much less than the cost of planned expansions elsewhere. Development of the port would attract investment to the region and create jobs, without impacting on the Great Barrier Reef.    

There are also plenty of formal opportunities for you to engage in the political process and have your say.

I would encourage those of you involved in the agriculture or fisheries sectors to make a submission on the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper.

You have just one week to comment on the Coalition’s $100 million programme to improve mobile telephone coverage in regional Australia.

The Productivity Commission has been asked to examine ways to make the child care system more flexible, affordable and accessible.

And this week we released the terms of reference for the review of the renewable energy targets.

In five months, six Federal Ministers have visited the Hinkler electorate to hear about the issues impacting local residents and businesses. And now, today, we have Senator-elect James McGrath here to speak to you too.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott is certainly keeping his promise to lead a consultative, stable Government.

Gone is the unstable Rudd-Gillard-Rudd Government that, in a period of just three years, gave us two Prime Ministers, two Treasurers, five assistant treasurers, six small business ministers and four ministers for immigration. The adults are back in charge!

I’m proud of what we’ve achieved to date. I will continue to work hard for the people of Hinkler, to build the stronger, more prosperous country that we all want. My door is always open.

Thank you for listening. I’d now like to welcome James to speak to you.

WORKS kicked off today on an $8 million federally-funded project to upgrade three intersections along the Bruce Highway just south of Childers.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said the project would play an important part in improving safety and efficiency along this stretch of the national highway.

“More than 6,500 motorists – including many heavy vehicle operators – use this section of road every day so we are acting to improve safety at these locations,” Mr Truss said.

“These works will cater for growing traffic volumes, especially during peak periods, by extending the dedicated right-turn lane at the Lucketts Road intersection and installing traffic signals at the Goodwood Road intersection.

“To cater for these new signals, the Butchers Road intersection will also be moved a short distance south to ensure safety is maintained for turning vehicles.”

At the sod turning today, Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt said the original scope of works involved removing all right-turn access at the Lucketts Road intersection in accordance with a 2010 coroner’s recommendation.

“We have listened to the community and we have come up with an upgrade which will see all traffic movements remain in place at the Lucketts Road intersection, while still achieving the desired safety outcomes,” Mr Pitt said.

Works will generally be carried out between 6am and 6pm, Monday to Saturday, with every effort being made to avoid disruptions during peak periods.

Motorists are asked to be patient, drive to the changed conditions and obey all signage while these works are under way.

Hazell Bros Group Pty Ltd has been awarded the project contract, which is expected to be completed in late 2014, weather permitting.

MEDIA CONTACTS: 

For Mr Truss: Brett Heffernan 0467 650 020
For Mr Pitt: Larine Statham 07 4152 0744